PVMA to host nationwide teacher workshops

Applications due March 4

DEERFIELD — Teachers from around the nation will gather in Old Deerfield this summer to study in depth one of the pivotal events in early New England history, the Feb. 29, 1704 French and Indian raid on the frontier outpost village of Deerfield. The Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association will host two free week-long workshop sessions, open to both public and private school educators, as well as home school educators. The first session is July 7 through 12; the second session is July 28 through Aug. 2.

The workshops, titled “Living on the Edge of Empire,” are led by prominent academic historians including Kevin Sweeney, Marge Bruchac, John Demos and Joanne Melish, as well as members of the PVMA Teachers’ Center and Historic Deerfield staffs. Each workshop day includes a distinguished scholar, central questions, readings, small group sessions, work with material resources, site visits and classroom integration strategies. In addition to lectures and discussions with scholars, the workshop activities include field excursions to other museums of the period and to an archaeological dig. Evening programs will include historical films, period food, music and dance.

Stipends available

These workshops include professional development points and $1,200 stipends to assist with covering related costs of attending like housing, meals and transportation. Each week-long session is limited to 40 participants. There is an application process. Details about the workshops and information on applying is available at http://edge-empire,deerfield-ma.org/. Applications must be postmarked by March 4.

“We are looking for a diverse group of educators for our program, including local educators,” said Darlene Marshall, workshop co-director. “We have already received teacher applications from California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia.”

“Teachers will find many ways to engage students in American history by studying the 1704 Raid on Deerfield,” according to Tim Neumann, executive director of the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association. “The bucolic New England town of Deerfield, Massachusetts of today was, for one brief, three-hour span in the early 18th century, the main stage of violent clashing between European colonial empires, diverse Native American Nations, and personal visions and ambitions,” said Neumann.